Kodiak Borough OKs Water Upgrade for Village of Karluk

The Kodiak Island Borough Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve a conditional use permit allowing the Native Village of Karluk to upgrade its water treatment facility. The project includes a new water storage tank and new water lines, aimed at providing a year-round source of potable water to the community.

Chris French of Community Development described the facility to the commission as "the primary source of drinking water to the Village of Carluck." The case was introduced as an effort to bring the existing utilities facility into compliance with the Conservation Zone.

Permit Required by Split Zoning

The permit was required because the water facility sits on a parcel split between two zoning districts. French told the commission that the utility is a permitted use in the Watershed District portion of the land, but the section within the Conservation District required commission approval.

French said staff found the application met borough code requirements under KIBC Chapter 17-200 and that findings and conditions of approval were incorporated into Resolution FY 2026-022.

Karen Brown of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium called in during the public hearing, identifying herself as working on the Karluk Water Treatment Plant Project. A commission member confirmed ANTHC was a partner in the project and the applicant's representative. Brown's first call had audio difficulties, but she reconnected and told commissioners she was available for questions. The commission had none. "I feel like your application was pretty thorough. We appreciate it," a commission member said. The motion carried 5-0.